Pearland juniors arrested over noose

The two also will spend a month in alternative school after rope is found hanging on campus

RICHARD STEWART, Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Published 6:30 am, Thursday, November 8, 2007

PEARLAND — Two Pearland High School students have been charged with disorderly conduct and will spend a month in an alternative school program after a security guard saw them hanging a noose in the high school parking lot.

Corey Ellis, 17, was charged with disorderly conduct for hanging the noose from an elevated observation platform used by the marching band director, said Pearland police spokesman Roy Castillo. Investigators said the noose was brought to the school by a 16-year-old juvenile. The two, both juniors at the high school, were arrested.

Ellis was released from jail on bail and the juvenile was released to his parents. If convicted, Ellis could face a $500 fine.

Rope nooses have become increasingly common signs of racial hatred since an incident in Jena, La., last year in which nooses were hung from a tree at a high school.